PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Wave

Is it me or does it look like many of the units in this proposal would have limited or no views of the downtown skyline. It looks like the buildings in front block the view of the "allegheny center" looking building in the front.

I think the residential floors in "Building A" are above the heights of Buildings B and C, with parking being on the lower levels of Building A. Building D might block a bit of their view but they should still be able to see large chunks of Downtown.

The back side of Building A won't have Downtown views, but there may not be much you can do about that--I guess you just charge less for those units.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by glowrock

So, it appears that the cold-storage warehouse in the Strip District with the Wholey's fish on it will finally start its conversion to 140+ apartment units in the Spring!

Article:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loca...ehouse-will-thaw-into-apartments-701871/

This has been a long time coming, so hopefully they really do start construction next year.

[Urbana]

Renderings of the Wholey Apartments


http://www.desmone.com/project/wholey-building/


The images are far too big to post.

[BrianTH]

Here are a few of the renderings:







Older image for comparison (I believe this was back during its office building phase):



I really, really like the new design. Very "Rust Belt Chic", and those balconies are great.

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by Urbana

Renderings of the Wholey Apartments


http://www.desmone.com/project/wholey-building/


The images are far too big to post.

I like that design quite a bit. I love how they're preserving some of the existing facade, gives it a bit of a retro-brutalist look.

Oh and that older design with the brick facade is just awful and generic looking.

[Topher51]

Interesting how the architect for One Grandview is being bashed on one page and then the same archtiect for is being praised for Wholey on the next...

Personally, I like them both.

[dfiler]

Originally Posted by Topher51

Interesting how the architect for One Grandview is being bashed on one page and then the same archtiect for is being praised for Wholey on the next...

Personally, I like them both.

Were people really fixated on the architect? I was only paying attention to the architecture.

The new Wholey's plan seems much better than the old to me. The old one is like an inaccessible lifeless cube. This is despite being clad in brick, which is usually quite appealing. The new one seems more human oriented, with waste high planters at street level. Combined with the balconies, it interacts more with the outside world.

That's one of my pet peeves in urban design. Some buildings are pretty much a featureless wall up against the sidewalk. You might as well be walking along a prison wall. It is preferable to have human sized features next to the sidewalk and better yet, windows and doors. The new design isn't perfect but it appears more human scale and approachable despite being partially composed of old concrete.

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by Topher51

Interesting how the architect for One Grandview is being bashed on one page and then the same archtiect for is being praised for Wholey on the next...

Personally, I like them both.

That's par for the course in architecture.

I really can't tell with this Wholey redo... looks like it could be very cool, but it looks like it could also be really, really bad -- what's with those sine waves on the roof screens?

Though it seems Desmone repurposed that crappy metalwork spire from One Grandview as scaffolding for that construction garbage chute-looking attached to the side of the building... odd.

Do we think that is what they are going for?

[Private Dick]

Some others from architect's website:









http://www.desmone.com/project/wholey-building/

[BrianTH]

I believe that's the wind turbine mentioned in the P-G article:

As part of the redevelopment, Sampson Morris also plans to install on one side of the building an 80-foot-high vertical wind turbine custom made by WindStax Wind Power Systems on Smallman Street. It will be used to power the exterior lighting. The developer will seek a LEED silver rating for the project.

You can see similar designs on the WindStax webpage:

http://windstax.com/

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by Topher51

Interesting how the architect for One Grandview is being bashed on one page and then the same archtiect for is being praised for Wholey on the next...

Personally, I like them both.

Good catch to realize that both projects are from Desmone. Initially I thought the connection to be inconsequential. Afterall, an actor can deliver a great performance in one film then be unimpressive in the next. But after further thought, maybe this sheds some light on my question about One Grandview: Is the problem a bad architect or a bad client? Could the developer of the Mt Washington site be the villain here and Desmone the hostage? Just saying...

Wholey must be a bitch of a building to redevelop---check out the Buffalo thread for some truly bad warehouse-to-residential conversions---but the concept and renderings of the Wholey project are really impressive. So why not the same with Grandview? The client?

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I believe that's the wind turbine mentioned in the P-G article:



You can see similar designs on the WindStax webpage:

http://windstax.com/

Cool. Now it makes sense. I've heard about buildings having mini exterior turbines to run minimal wattage fixtures, but I didn't know what they really looked like.

[DKNewYork]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I believe that's the wind turbine mentioned in the P-G article.

Aren't wind turbines noisy?

[Private Dick]

^ I doubt those things are. They'll likely only power exterior LEDs. And the building is a concrete bunker -- I don't think residents would hear a thing.

[Wave]

Looks like there is some activity at the Forward/Murray Poli's location in Squirrell Hill. 40 residential units....not sure if this will include the theater space or just the former Poli's. Seems like a small parcel for 40 accessible-friendly units.

<<Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

By Sam Spatter

A nonprofit developer plans to convert the former Poli's Restaurant in Squirrel Hill into 40 units of housing for residents with special needs.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/4647813-74/housing-restaurant-building#ixzz2dxsR3KJp
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

[bmust71]

While the design looks cool now, I feel that it will age quickly, and appear outdated in the near future.

[daviderik]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Though it seems Desmone repurposed that crappy metalwork spire from One Grandview as scaffolding for that construction garbage chute-looking attached to the side of the building... odd.

HA! "Garbage Chute" Bingo! I was thinking the very same thing. Installation art? Architects should stick to structure.

[photoLith]

Not really a pittsburgh development but a lot of this movie is shot at Carrie Furnace, Homestead, and Washington County.

• Video Link

[Steel City Scotty]

Originally Posted by Wave

Looks like there is some activity at the Forward/Murray Poli's location in Squirrell Hill. 40 residential units....not sure if this will include the theater space or just the former Poli's. Seems like a small parcel for 40 accessible-friendly units.

<<Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

By Sam Spatter

A nonprofit developer plans to convert the former Poli's Restaurant in Squirrel Hill into 40 units of housing for residents with special needs.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/4647813-74/housing-restaurant-building#ixzz2dxsR3KJp
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

According to the article, it sounds like only the land where the Poli building currently stands will be used for the new project...which means something still has to be done about this long-standing eyesore on the corner...

[photoLith]

^
What eyesore? That 1920s building? Thats not an eyesore, just in needs of a restoration.